NBA Makes Jaylen Brown Punishment Decision

As Brown prepares for Wednesday’s game, he finds himself at the center of controversy. Late in Monday night’s 105–103 loss to the Utah Jazz, the Celtics were hanging on to a one-point lead when Brown handled the ball at the top of the key.

Jazz guard Keyonte George fell while defending him, causing Brown to trip and lose possession. Utah recovered the loose ball and converted a quick basket, taking a 103–102 lead with 44 seconds left.

Brown was furious after the game, calling out the officiating crew for missing what he believed was a clear foul.

“You can't have a mistake like that as an official at that point in the game,” Brown said (h/t ESPN). “It's fourth quarter, it's a minute left in the game or less, and you completely—the whole staff blows the [expletive] call, you know what I mean? Cost us the game. Unacceptable.”

On Wednesday, Brown revealed that the NBA made the decision to not fine him for his postgame comments. He shared he had been bracing for punishment, but the league acknowledged the officiating error, declaring the missed tripping call a mistake. “I guess they understood [my anger],” Brown said (h/t Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe).

Brown is widely regarded as one of the best scorers in the league and remains the engine of a Celtics team in transition. A four-time All-Star, one-time All-NBA selection and the 2024 Finals MVP, he has earned respect across the league for his toughness, leadership and ability to deliver in big moments.

As Boston navigates life without Tatum, Brown’s role has never been more important. Brown will look to keep moving forward from the incident, focused on leading the Celtics through a challenging stretch and keeping their season on track.